In order to accelerate progress towards the goal of full immunization coverage Prime Minister recently launched the Intensified Mission Indradhanush.

It will provide greater focus on urban areas and other pockets of low immunization coverage. The Prime Minister distributed e-tablets to health workers to mark the launch of ImTeCHO which is an innovative mobile phone application to improve performance of ASHAs. He also launched some development works. 

Addressing the gathering, he said that “coming back to one's home town and receiving such a warm welcome is special. Whatever I am today is due to the values I have learnt on this soil, among you all in Vadnagar.”

Speaking at the function,  J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, said that "unwavering support of the Prime Minister has always been a source of great inspiration. He added that improving the health status of the children of the country is amongst the top priorities of the Government. Shri Nadda informed that the four phases of Mission Indradhanush have reached to more than 2.53 crore children and 68 lakh pregnant women with life-saving vaccines including 5.21 lakh children & 1.27 lakh pregnant women in Gujarat."

"Through this mission, we have accelerated our progress towards our target of 90% full immunization coverage, he stated. Earlier the increase in full immunization coverage was 1% per year which has increased to 6.7% per year through the first two phases of ‘Mission Indradhanush’, he added.

With a sharpened focus on high priority districts and urban areas, under IMI, four consecutive immunization rounds will be conducted for 7 days in 173 districts -- 121 districts and 17 cities in 16 states and 52 districts in 8 north eastern states -- every month between October 2017 and January 2018.

Intensified Mission Indradhanush will cover low performing areas in the selected districts and urban areas. These areas have been selected through triangulation of data available under national surveys, Health Management Information System data and World Health Organization concurrent monitoring data. Special attention will be given to unserved/low coverage pockets in sub-centre and urban slums with migratory population. The focus is also on the urban settlements and cities identified under National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). 

IMI will have inter-ministerial and inter-departmental coordination, action-based review mechanism and intensified monitoring and accountability framework for effective implementation of targeted rapid interventions to improve the routine immunization coverage. IMI is supported by 11 other ministries and departments, such as Ministry of Women and Child Development, Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Youth Affairs among others. The convergence of ground level workers of various departments like ASHA, ANMs, Anganwadi workers, Zila preraks under National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM), self-help groups will be ensured for better coordination and effective implementation of the programme. 

He also visited GMERS Medical College, Vadnagar, and unveiled a plaque to mark its dedication and also interacted briefly with students. 

The Prime Minister expressed happiness that he had got to inaugurate projects related to the health sector, particularly Intensified Mission Indradhanush. He mentioned how the Government had brought down the prices of stents, and said that the Government is working constantly to make healthcare affordable for the poor. 

Mentioning his interaction with students from the medical college, the Prime Minister said that as a society, we require more doctors who can serve the people.